Student/ Guardian Handbook
General Student/Guardian/Family Policies
In-Studio Rules
Lounge & Reception Areas
Attendance & Tardiness
Drop-off/Pick-up Policy
Tuition, Fees, & Payments
Privacy
Signature Page
General Student/Guardian/Family Policies
1. At Texas Dance Culture, we do not lie, cheat or steal; nor do we tolerate those who do.
2. No foul language will be tolerated in our facilities.
3. Parents are not allowed to enter ongoing classes because this creates a distraction for the dancers. If you have a concern, we are happy to assist you while on break or after class.
4. If a student must be removed early from class, please inform the teacher prior to class. If an emergency arises, please inform a staff member, and they will quietly escort your child to you. This will reduce class distraction.
5. Observation is permitted from the waiting room windows where available. Please refrain from peeking through the door. This is also a distraction to teachers and students. In addition, studio doorways should not be blocked, as someone may trip over another child or object when leaving class.
6. Failure to comply with family/guardian policies will be addressed first with a warning. If the behavior continues, the studio owners will confer to determine whether the student should be allowed to continue attending classes.
In-Studio Rules
1. Teachers should be addressed with respect (Ms. Genafe, Mr. Martinez, etc.), unless otherwise instructed by the individual teacher. This is to help the students maintain a professional demeanor.
2. No eating in the studios. Please eat in the lounge area to reduce accidents.
3. No gum, food, or drinks are permitted in the dance studios and music studio. Water in a sealable container is permitted in the dance studios.
4. Students may not sit down unless instructed to do so by their teacher.
5. Students may not leave the classroom without the teacher’s permission. This is for their safety.
6. No excessive conversations should take place during class. This can disruptive to fellow classmates on the floor and is disrespectful toward the instructors.
7. No unattended children are permitted in the studios without a teacher or permission from a staff member.
8. No street shoes are permitted on the dance floors. Dirt, rainwater, and grime can cause the Marley flooring to erode.
9. Please turn off cell phones prior to entering class. No checking social media or texting allowed during class time.
10. Cubbies are provided as a courtesy to students for temporary storage of belongings. Students are responsible for keeping track of their valuables.
11. No stealing.
12. Texas Dance Culture is not responsible for misplaced or stolen items. Unclaimed items will be placed in our Lost and Found.
13. Failure to comply with studio rules will be addressed first with a warning. If the behavior persists, the student will simply be asked to leave class. This will be recorded as an absence.
Lounge & Reception Areas
1. Children under the age of 12 shall not be left unattended in our facility.
2. Unattended children who meet the age requirement must wait in these designated areas.
3. Children should be picked up promptly after their classes. Wait time for pick-up shall not exceed 15 minutes.
4. If there is an emergency, contact Texas Dance Culture. If your child must wait for you, please let the staff know, and provide your child with an activity and/or snack.
5. Please use the garbage cans provided in the lounge and reception areas for disposing of food and trash.
6. If food is spilled, clean immediately with paper towels from the bathrooms or clean rags that the facility may have available.
7. To protect the privacy of your baby, please use the diaper changing station provided in the large bathroom.
8. Be considerate of ongoing classes by controlling volume levels in the waiting areas.
9. If you would like a different movie selection, please ask staff. We are happy to accommodate, and we ask that students and parents resist the urge to make such alterations themselves.
10. Toys and books are provided as a courtesy. Please care for them during use, and be sure they are put away where they belong before you leave.
11. Be mindful not to gossip in our facilities. Other parents and students can potentially overhear and/or misunderstand conversations. If an issue must be addressed, it should be done with respect and with every effort to keep peace. If a confrontation appears to be escalating, we ask that all parties involved resolve the conflict outside of the facility or elsewhere.
Attendance & Tardiness
1. Students are expected to be ready for their lessons. This means arriving a few minutes before scheduled class time and in proper designated attire before entering the studio.
2. To instill respect and etiquette, late students must knock on the door and ask the teacher for permission to join a class that has already begun. To reduce risk of injury due to missing the warmup/stretch portion of class, students arriving late can expect that they may be required to sit and observe class that day. Students arriving extremely late may possibly not be permitted to join an ongoing class, depending on how much of the class has already been missed.
3. At this time, we are unable to accommodate a makeup class for every program when students are absent. We ask that you are mindful of this and that every effort is made to ensure consistent student attendance.
4. Missing more than 4 classes for the 2017-2018 dance season will be considered excessive. Excessive absences will result in ineligibility for the end-of-season dance recital.
5. There are no refunds, nor will we prorate tuition for absences.
Drop-off/Pick-up Policy
Students will only be released to leave with whomever is listed on the Child Pick-up Release Authorization Form. (This form is required.) Proof of identification will be requested before releasing a child with someone unfamiliar.
Program Pricing
Pricing for Dance/Acro Programs:
$35 annual registration fee.
$60/month/student
$100/month/student enrolled in 2 programs
$130/month/student enrolled in 3 programs
$150/month/student enrolled in 4 programs
A 10% tuition discount off of the TOTAL tuition costs will be applied to families with 3 or more students enrolled in these programs.
Special Programs:
Zumba – $5/person/class
Platinum Pulse – $3/person/class
Saturday Special Mixers – $15/person (2 hour sessions)
Music Programs:
$20/lesson (8 lesson minimum)
$25/lesson (4 lesson minimum)
$30/lesson (standard drop-in)
Minimums pertain to lessons in the same instrument.
Music classes must meet the minimal participant requirement in order to continue being offered. This amount varies per instrument.
Tuition, Fees, & Payments
• Tuition is due on the 1st day of every month. If the 1st falls on a Sunday, tuition is due on the 2nd. To avoid confusion or late fees, we recommend using our autopay system.
• A $15 fee will be charged if tuition is not paid by the due date. Returned checks will incur a $25 fee.
• If tuition and fees are not paid by the 10th day of the month, a fee of $5 per day will be added and accrued until the balance is paid in full.
• Notice of cancellation must be submitted in writing 30 days prior to the next billing cycle.
Privacy
Texas Dance Culture does not share customers’ personal or financial information.
By following these policies, you will help create the best dance and music experience possible. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who fails to comply with our policies.
Tony Roy Martinez
Studio Owner/Operator
Genafe Martinez
Studio Owner/Director